Blotter



June 14, 1938.

F. E. ANDREWS BLOTTER Original Filed Feb. 19, 1935 I I l I l I I I Inventbr Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES eATsnT OFFICE Appiication February. 19, 1935, Serial No. 7,297 Renewed November 15, 1937 10 Claims.

My invention relates generally to writing instruments and particularly to that type thereof which includes a cap for covering the writing point, and an important object of the invention is 5 to provide a writing instrument which includes a cap which in one condition conceals and enclosures the writing point and blotter means, and in another position exposes the blotter means for use.

Another important object of my invention is to provide blotter means in a writing instrument, such as a fountain pen, which will enable the writer to have a blotter available for use without resorting to carrying an ordinary blotter, the instrument being suilicient to the purposes of writing in ink and blotting the same as required.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a writing instrument cap incorporating blotter means, the said cap being adaptable to be removed from the point of the writing instrument and at the same time conceal the blotter means.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawing,

wherein for purposes of 1llustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of a fotmtain pen having-a cap constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevaticnal view taken at right angle to Figure 1 and showing the blotter means exposed and extended into operative position on the cap, with the cap still in position on the pen and protecting and concealing the writing point thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken through the cap and showing 0' the relation of the cap and the blotter means to the writing point of a fountain pen, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a side elcvational view of the extensible tube.

45 Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of one side of the upper part of the extensible tube viewing the same from right to left in Figure 4,

Referring in detail to the drawing, hereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout the same, the numeral 5 generally designates the present embodiment of the invention which includes pen portion 5 and the cap portion 1.

The pen is of usual construction and has threads adjacent its writing point 8 for engaging with the corresponding threads 9 in the interior of the lower end of the cap 1. The cap 1 is an upwardly tapering tube IQ of suitable material which is provided with a lower countersunk band it and an upper and wider countersunk band I2. The band i2 includes a downwardly and outward- 5 ly projecting pocket clip 13 and extending from the band i 2 opposite the clip 13 is the spring latch member it which is hooked on its upper end as indicated by the numeral l5. The latch l4 works in a longitudinal depression or slot I6 in the wall of the cap adjacent the upper end thereof.

Slidably telescoped within the cap I is the ex tensiblc tube which is generally designated l1 and which has a long opening 18 in one side thereof and extending through the top thereof from a point 19 spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof as shown in Figure 4. The taper of the interior of the cap 1 and of the exterior of the tube i7 is such that the extensible tube ll may be pushed or pulled through the top of the cap 1 56 to a sufficient height to expose the blotter means to be described for use, yet be held by frictional engagement with the interior of the cap 1 from moving entirely out of the cap 1.

A helical spring 29 having one end passing through the wall of the cap 1 and anchored to the band ii 'as indicated by the numeral 2| has its upper end secured in a suitable manner to the plain lower, end of the extensible tube H, whereby the extensible tube H is constantly ready to spring outwardly to an extended position such as that shown in Figure 2.

Attached to and closing the upper end of the extensible tube H is the ornamentally-shaped head 22 which is of a size to close the upper end of the cap 7 when the extensible tube is in the retracted position, as shown in Figure 3. One side of the head 22 has a hook detent 23 to be engaged by the hook 15 of the latch I 4, whereby the extensible tube is held in the retracted position.

Pressing radially inwardly on the latch 14 which has a normal radially outward tension, will 'release the hook l5 from the detent 23 and frcethe extensible tube so that its spring 28 will push the up into the extended position illustrated f in Figure 2.

Within the side walls of the extensible'tube H depending from the head 22 are diametrically spaced pivot ears 24, 25 which receive and mount a pivot 26 which forms the support and bearing for the lug 2? which is on the upper end of the block 28 on which the blotter is mounted. The blotter which is generally designated 29 includes the shell 39 which is open at its bottom to receive the writing point of the pen in. the assembled condition of the pen and cap illustrated in Figure 3, the shell having a closed top provided with a boss 35 and a reduced pivot 32 which is journaled in a vertical bore in the body 28 and riveted over the top of the body as indicated at 33.

The lower end of the body 23 bears against the top of the boss 3| and the riveted portion 33 on the upper end of the pivot 32 bears against the top of the body 28 so that the shell is firmly attached to the body 28 while being permitted rotation on the axis of the pivot 32.

The exterior surface of the shell 30 is covered by blotting paper or other blotting material as indicated by the numeral 34 which is to be applied to the wet writing by rolling the blotter over the surface thereof while the blotter is in the extended position shown in Figure 2.

Depending between the pivot ears 24 and 25 and attached to the underside of the head 22 of the extensible tube is a U-shaped spring retainer 35 which is adapted to receive the body 28 and hold the blotter in the generally right angular position illustrated in Figure 2 while the blotter is being used.

The blotter 29 is gotten into the position shown in Figure 2 simply by releasing the latch l4 and permitting the extensible tube to spring to its extended position. The sudden stopping of the extensible tube as it reaches its limit of movement produces the lateral outward swinging of the blotter which engages the same with the retainer 35, which holds the same in operative position sufficiently well under ordinary circumstances.

It will be obvious that the blotter is restored to the position shown in Figure 3 simply by disengaging the same from the retainer 35 and swinging the same into axial alignment with the tube [1 and then pushing on the head 22 until the latch M has become re-engaged with the detent 23.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a writing instrument cap, tubular blotting means normally lying within said cap, said blotting means being extensible from said cap for use, and spring means within said cap for projecting said blotter means to extended operative position.

2. In a writing instrument cap, tubular'blotting means normally lying within said cap, said blotting means being extensible from said cap for use, and spring means within said cap for projecting said blotter means to extended operative position, and a cap clip detent on said cap for holding said blotter means in normal inoperative position.

3. In a writing instrument cap, blotter means normally lying within said cap, said blotter means being extensible from said cap for use, said blotter means comprising a member longitudinally movable in said cap, an arm pivoted to said member for lateral swinging movement, and a blotting tube rotatably mounted on said arm.

4. In a writing instrument cap, blotter means on said cap, said blotter means comprising a tubular member normally lying within said cap and extensible from said cap for use, a rotary blotter normally lying within said tubular member, pivot means connecting said blotter to said tubular member, and spring means in said cap for projecting said blotter means to extended operative position.

5. In a writing instrument cap, blotter means on said cap, said blotter means comprising a tubular member normally lying within said cap and extensible fromsaid cap for use, a rotary blotter normally lying within said tubular member, pivot means connecting said blotter to said tubular member, and spring means in said cap for projecting said blotter means to extended operative position, said pivot means being arranged to permit said rotary blotter to move to a right angular position relative to said tubular member when said blotter means is in the extended operative position.

6. In a writing instrument cap, blotter means on said cap, said blotter means comprising a tubular member normally lying within said cap and extensible from said cap for use, a rotary blotter normally lying within. said tubular member, pivot means connecting said blotter to said tubular member, and spring means in said cap for projecting said blotter means to extended operative position, said pivot means being connected to one end of said rotary blotter, said pivot means being arranged to permit said rotary blotter to swing laterally outwardly from said tubular member to operative position by momentum as said tubular member comes to a stop in its fully extended position after being projected by said spring means.

'7. In a writing instrument cap, blotter means on said cap, said blotter means comprising a tubular member normally lying within said cap and extensible from said cap for use, a rotary blotter normally lying within said tubular member, pivot means connecting said blotter to said tubular member, and spring means in said cap for projecting said blotter means to extended operative position, said pivot means being connected to one end of said rotary blotter, said pivot means being arranged to permit said rotary blotter to swing laterally outwardly from said tubular memher to operative position by momentum as said tubular member comes to a stop in its fully extended position after being projected by said spring means, and a releasable detent on said tubular member, said releasable detent being arranged to be engaged by said rotary blotter as said rotary blotter moves into operative position whereby said rotary blotter is retained in operative position.

8. In combination, an open ended tube, a tubular member normally lying within said tube and arranged to be partially extended from said tube, means at the outer end of said tube and at the inner end of said tubular member limiting the extension of said tubular member from said tube, spring means in said tube arranged to move said tubular member to extended position, blotter means on said tubular member and normally lying within said tubular member while said tubular member is in the unextended position, and means movably connecting said blotter means to said tubular member, said means being arranged to permit said blotter means to move relative to said tubular member by momentum into blotting position as said tubular member is projected toward extended position and is stopped by said means.

9. In combination, a cap, a member slidable in said cap, an elongated blotter pivoted at its inner end to said member for lateral swinging away from said member, spring means on said cap for projecting said member along said cap, and stop means on said cap to engage a portion of said member to suddenly arrest the projection of said member by said spring means in a manner to cause said blotter toswing laterally outwardly to operative position by momentum.

10. In combination, a cap, a member slidable in said cap, an elongated blotter pivoted at its inner end to said member for lateral swinging away from said member, spring means on said cap for projecting said member along said cap, and stop means on said cap to engage a portion of said member to suddenly arrest the projection of said member by said spring means in a manner to cause said blotter to swing laterally outwardly to operative position by momentum, and a releasable detent on said member engageable by said blotter as said blotter swings outwardly whereby said blotter is held in operative position.

FRED E. ANDREWS. 

